A new photo of what is believed to be iPhone 8 schematics reveals a surprising new design direction.
Apple appears to have done away with the smooth curves we’ve come to expect from its smartphones in recent years, opting instead for sharper edges and flat sides. This image suggests the next iPhone will be much like the iPhone 5, only bigger.
Much bigger.
iPhone 8: A throwback to iPhone 5 design?
The iPhone 5 carried my favorite iPhone design. It wasn’t the most comfortable to hold, but I think it was by far the prettiest — and I hoped the iPhone 6 would be a bigger version. According to new schematics posted by noted leaker Sonny Dickson, this year’s iPhone 8 could fulfill that dream.
The shell seen in the photo above carries the same flat sides as the iPhone 5, with what appear to be chamfered edges. Cutouts for two rear-facing cameras get stacked one on top of the other, near the trademark Apple logo and a rear-facing Touch ID button.
The standard cutouts for the LED flash, SIM card slot, mute switch and sleep/wake button are also present. There doesn’t appear to be room for volume buttons, though it’s hard to tell from this photo alone. There’s certainly no sign of the headphone jack making a comeback.
iPhone 8 schematics?
The schematics indicate that the new iPhone will measure more than 10mm wider and taller than the 4.7-inch iPhone 7. The drawing could show the body of the iPhone 8 Plus (or iPhone Edition or whatever it will be named), the high-end 2017 model that is expected to house a larger display in a smaller form factor thanks to dramatically reduced bezels.
Those smaller bezels might force relocation of the Touch ID sensor to the back of the device. If Apple follows Samsung’s footsteps with the Galaxy S8, there won’t be room beneath the iPhone 8’s display for a physical button; almost all of the front of the phone will be display.
It looks like the frame shown in the leaked iPhone 8 schematics was designed to hold flat glass, not a curved display like those used by Samsung. Recent rumors have suggested at least one of Apple’s next-generation smartphones will offer curved OLED panels, but they’re likely to be reserved for a premium model.
Like all iPhone schematics, it’s hard to tell whether these are genuine; it’s very easy to fake something like this. Dickson has been reliable in the past, but we recommend taking this image with a pinch of salt until it’s confirmed by Apple, or we see leaked photos of an actual iPhone 8 chassis.
